Amanda Kihn graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in mid-August and completed her exams to become a Registered Massage Therapist in October. We reached out to chat with her about how she’s been keeping busy during the six-week wait for the results of her exams, her thoughts looking back on her time at WCCMT, and what it was like balancing being a mom and a full-time student.

“The College of Massage Therapists of BC will not let me call myself a Registered Massage Therapist until a long checklist is complete,” Kihn explains. “Finishing the WCCMT program and the Board Exams are only the first two items on that list.”

Luckily, Amanda had a great business teacher in Rosemary Caulder, who taught WCCMT students the steps to go through in order to start a business as a sole proprietor. She wasted no time. “I got my business licence and I negotiated a contract that included renting a treatment room in a clinic a few blocks from my home (Refined Health). I graduated from WCCMT on the 15th of August and gave my first relaxation massage on the morning of the 16th!” (Graduates in BC can perform relaxation massages while waiting for their licence. Graduates of Ontario cannot perform any type of massage until they obtain their licence.)

“I also connected with a downtown business owner, Eva Build of Mothering Touch, during a networking event at the college,” she continues. I had done a birth partner (doula) course with Eva about five years ago and she was looking to offer massage to her clientele before and after their pregnancies. You can now book Perinatal Massages online with me on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Friday afternoons.”

She concludes: “Is it easy? No. But if you’re motivated to do some work getting organized, getting a business licence and being your own boss is worth the effort!”

Since graduating, Amanda has also been refocusing on her own health and wellness. She is eating better, exercising regularly, and walking her children to and from school. Things that sadly often fall to the wayside when we’re busy learning new skills. “I enjoy working part-time but my full-time focus until I build my practice is my two young children.”

Amanda tells us she cannot state how vital her own health care team was while going through school and highly recommends prospective and current WCCMT students learn more about meditation.

“Meditation in general can be a great tool to cultivate calm,” she says. “Taking time every day to find my centre meant that when I would get anxious before exams, I could come back to my breath, adopt a mantra, and know that one way or another, I’d make it to the other end of EVERY challenge that was between me and my dream.”

Finally, Amanda offers some advice to new students entering the program.

“I recommend that students who are in the program or just getting started find a way to take all their notes from each class and collate them in between terms. It’s hard enough to balance being a mom with two small children, it was so easy to get swept up in the sea of knowledge.”

“Bottom line,” she says “put the time in to master the material. Do not memorize and do not study to the test. MASTER THE MATERIAL. You need to know it all, so buckle down and only dedicate the rest of your spare time to what matters most to you… this is the secret to success.”

Thanks, Amanda! We know you’re going to make a wonderful Massage Therapist!

This September 2017, Toronto will host the Invictus Games – a celebration of the strength of injured service members and veterans from over 17 allied nations.The event was established by Prince Harry in 2014 and is the only international adaptive sport event for injured active duty and veteran service members. In honour of the Invictus Games, CCMH/WCCMT will share interviews and stories of veterans who have graduated from our College and students with military backgrounds

Today we spoke with Amanda Kihn, a current student of WCCMT Victoria. She enrolled at WCCMT after serving for nearly 10 years in the Navy. We spoke with her about her transition to civilian life, her studies and challenges, why she loves Massage Therapy, and her aspirations for the future.

Hi Amanda. Can you tell us a bit about your experiences in the military?

I have sailed virtually every sea port on the Pacific from Alaska to Chile! One of my most memorable port visits was to Pearl Harbour, where I ate a mango that fell out of a tree on the base at Hickam. My favourite port to frequent was San Diego, the onlyplace I have ever watched a professional baseball game. Go Giants!

Sounds like you got a lot of travel experience through your service! What led you to pursue a career in Massage Therapy?

I needed a drastic career change. When I left the Navy, I felt like a shadow of my former self. Massage Therapy seemed like a profession where I could continue to take care of people. When I was offered a vocational rehabilitation opportunity by SISIP/Manulife, I started looking for ways to serve humanity. This program was my answer.

We’re so glad you feel that way! Are there knowledge or skills from your past work and life experiences that carry over into Massage Therapy?

My skills are always a work in progress. Continuing education and professional development come naturally to me. I’m always ready to drink from the next fire hose. The military prepared me for studying long hours, dedication to the profession, and above all else, teamwork. This program can be stressful, but it’s only a fraction of the stress that I was used to when it came to my military experience. It’s still challenging, but I have faith in my own resilience.

Sounds like you were well prepared for your studies here! Why did you choose to study at WCCMT in Victoria?

The budget and timeline were perfect for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. I was honest with them about my concerns transitioning back to civilian life, and the administration has always been on my side as I navigated some challenges.

It would be quite a transition! What are your aspirations for your career as a Massage Therapist?

I am open to all possibilities. Working with veterans with PTSD on releasing trauma registers pretty high on my radar these days. Exploring the mind-body connection and reintroducing therapeutic touch as a means of supplementing deep psychological healing is where my passion lives. I don’t know what my answer to this question will be a year from now when I graduate, but I know my work will be as unique as I am.

We can’t wait to see where your career takes you! What excites you about working in Massage Therapy?

I love how magical it feels to treat someone, even just once, and have them leave feeling better than when they arrived. I get even more excited when they come back the next week so I can pick up where we left off. The real magic is that I know this profession is my vocation and I am elated every time I am able to help decrease someone’s pain or increase their physical or mental well-being.

How fulfilling! Is there anything else about you that you think our readers may be interested to learn?

I’m a mom. I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old. My husband is in the Navy. Studying in such an intense program isn’t easy, but when my husband sails, sometimes it feels impossible. Teamwork is the answer. My support team in the class and my extended family have helped me be all that I can be… and more!

We wish you all the best in your studies and career, Amanda! Thank you for speaking with us.

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